The NSPE House of Delegates (HOD) Meeting at the NSPE Annual Conference on July 22, 2017.

The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) had recognized years ago that even though they had 54 states and territories, they had thousands of different member dues combinations, which made for an operational and marketing nightmare. It also made it difficult for State societies across the country to share the same marketing tools and strategies.

In an effort to change this, a few years ago, NSPE hired an outside consulting company and embarked upon a journey with an end goal of creating a unified dues structure.

At the beginning of 2017, a national task force of about a dozen people was assembled to create this new pricing model. NYSSPE Executive Director Anthony Fasano, PE, was one of the people selected for this committee. Fasano represented New York during this process, and with input from NYSSPE leadership, helped NSPE to sculpt this new unified dues structure. [Read more…]

S5887 (Lanza) A7590 (Benedetto) New York City Design Build Authorization

S 5887, in relevant part, would vest a number of New York City agencies with the authority to utilize design build without State legislative oversight. Specifically the bill authorizes the use of design build for virtually all projects including roads, bridges, tunnels, buildings and other public improvements.

Pursuit to current law construction in both the public and private sectors must utilize a design-bid-build construction methodology. In New York, design build has only been authorized by virtue of project specific enabling legislation, or by virtue of 2011 legislation establishing a pilot project employing a limited number of entities on a trial basis respecting highway and bridge projects. The 2011 pilot was extended last year and a report on the use of design build is awaiting delivery to the Legislature. [Read more…]

The New York State Society of Professional Engineers is proud to announce the recent hiring of Celia D’Agostino. D’Agostino just recently graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic University (RPI) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering.

D’Agostino plans to work with NYSSPE for the summer while she finalizes her first engineering job. Last summer she worked for a company doing sustainability modeling for greenhouse gas emissions. D’Agostino has also participated in a study abroad program where she was immersed renewable energy and sustainability projects in Iceland.

D’Agostino will help NYSSPE to bolster our social media presence to ensure we are a news source for engineering professionals in New York State. The NYSSPE is excited to add Celia to the team.

Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

The Long Island Sound is an estuary that serves numerous local communities and the regional economy by providing boating, fishing, swimming and sightseeing. The sound is a vital water body that provides a home for numerous species of aquatic life to breed, nest and nurse. Due to concerns over poor water and aquatic quality, significant efforts have been made toward identifying pollutants and other issues that impact the sound and developing plans to mitigate them.

Water quality studies have been performed and nitrogen has been identified as a principal factor limiting the water quality of the Long Island Sound. Excess nitrogen levels in the Long Island Sound stimulate phytoplankton growth, which in turn blocks light and prevent growth of submerged aquatic vegetation, destroying the habitat of different fish and shellfish. When the phytoplankton die and decay, available oxygen is then depleted. Thus, dissolved oxygen concentrations fall below the needed levels for the survival of aquatic organisms. [Read more…]

This coming Tuesday, May 10th Erick E. Murdock P.E. will be present in detail new septic system technologies and general septic system design and installation techniques. The presentation will include Passive ATU – the next generation of Aerobic Treatment & Dispersal in septic systems. Eric was Project Manager for the U.S.E.P.A. funded demonstration project, which was set up to research, select, and install alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems in the Skaneateles Lake Watershed. Nineteen systems were installed as part of the project. Most of these systems were the first of their kind in New York State and/or the United States.

Fields Construction Company, McLaren Engineering Group and Marchetto Higgins Stieve Architects announced that construction has commenced at 207 Van Vorst Street in Jersey City, New Jersey. Situated adjacent to St. Peter’s Prep high school and within walking distance of NJ Transit’s PATH and light rail lines, the development will feature two 15-story buildings featuring 408 residences and approximately 14,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

The project, which is being developed by Fields Development Group, was designed by architectural firm Marchetto Higgins Stieve. McLaren Engineering Group is providing structural engineering design and construction support for the project. “The latest among a multitude of multifamily buildings that we are constructing in Jersey City, 207 Van Vorst is a great example of the type of challenging project that Fields Construction excels at completing,” Fields Construction Principal Jim Caulfield said. “We’re excited to expand upon our hard-earned reputation here on New Jersey’s Gold Coast, where we’re building structures for many of the market’s premier developers.”

Please join the New York State Society of Professional Engineers, Inc. in congratulating our 2016 Award Winners!

Engineer of the Year: Orrin B. MacMurray, PE

“Mac” is currently Chariman Emeritus at the C&S Companies. A career that began as an assistant engineer some 20 years earlier, and included his first professional license in 1978, progressed to where Mac was elected president of C&S in 1994. As chairman and CEO, Mac spearheaded efforts to diversify C&S’ services, employee population, and office locations. In recognition of the integral role that Mac continues to play in the success of the C&S Companies, he was appointed chairman emeritus of the board in 2013. He has held numerous positions outside of business. Mac has been an active member of his town planning board for over 28 years, having held the position of chairman for 14 of those years. He serves on the board of directors and executive committee for the Longhouse Council, Inc., of the Boy Scouts of America and is on the advisory board for Syracuse University’s School of Engineering. Mac is an active member of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York and Presidents Council at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He is on the advisory board for the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University and is a guest lecturer. Mac is also active in the National Society of Professional Engineers and is active in the Water Environment Federation, American Water Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Military Engineers, and other professional bodies. He is past president of the American Council of Engineering Companies-New York, and past chairman of the National American Council of Engineering Companies, Inc., board member of Upstate Medical University Foundation in Syracuse and The New York Indoor Environmental Quality Center, a past trustee of WCNY Public Television, and secretary of the Onondaga Community College Foundation.

On Thursday evening, April 14th, 2016, Joseph Olewnicki, P.E., Chief Engineer of the Division of Capital Maintenance of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection will present an overview of the engineering operations and Capital Maintenance projects throughout the City of New York. In this presentation, Mr. Olewnicki will outline DEP’s operations in the City and in particular what the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment does, as well as discuss several capital and maintenance projects. There are still a limited number of seating remaining for this 1-PDH presentation.

Joseph Olewnicki, P.E., manages the Division of Capital Maintenance for the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment at DEP. The Bureau of Wastewater handles and treats all sewage for the 5 boroughs of NYC as well as operates and maintains 14 sewage treatment plants, 6 sludge dewatering facilities, 3 CSO facilities, 2 aeration facilities, 98 pumping stations, 500+ outfalls and 138 miles of sewage interceptors. The engineering program run by this division is responsible for capital projects that maintain wastewater handling and treatment systems and include both planned upgrades and emergency response.

In addition to the above presentation, there will be a 1-PDH presentation by Savin Engineering which will include [Read more…]

In honor of National Women’s History Month, the Town of Brookhaven has recognized Prime Engineering’s Founder and Principal Jaclyn Peranteau for excellence in her endeavors in the Civil Engineering design field. A ceremony will be held on March 24th at 7:00pm at Brookhaven’s Town Hall Auditorium to honor the excellence of her achievements. [Read more…]